Mother charged in infant's death

Published: Thursday, November 8, 2012 at 03:55 PM.

Davidson’s first child was born prematurely and lived only a few days. Since the loss of her children, Davidson has been depressed, according to her family.

“She’s suffered enough. She’s a sweet girl,” said Robin Davidson. “We’re just shocked at the charge.”

Davidson’s brother, Joshua Davidson, said he hopes the judge in the next hearing shows mercy for his sister. He wants her home before Christmas.

Davidson has several pending court dates separate from the child abuse charge.

Convicted of assault in 2006, Davidson was also charged with assault in Gaston County in July 2011 and again last month. She has pending DWI charges from December 2011 and September of this year. She also failed to appear in court in August.

You can reach reporter Diane Turbyfill at 704-869-1817 and twitter.com/GazetteDiane.

A Gastonia woman faces a felony child abuse charge for smothering her infant, according to Gastonia police.

Shana Alexis Davidson was drunk when she fell asleep on the couch with her infant daughter, Shaelyn Gabriell Davidson, according to an autopsy report.

When the 23-year-old woman woke up, she discovered that her child was not breathing.

She ran next door and called 911, according to Sgt. Gene Weaver with Gastonia police.

Weaver did not know how long the little girl had been dead.

According to an autopsy report from the N.C. Medical Examiner Office, the child was just under 2 months old and weighed less than 10 pounds. She was wearing a onesie, socks and mittens when she died.

The examiner could not determine a cause of death.

The incident happened March 18.

Warrants for Davidson’s arrest were taken out Friday and served Wednesday.

Police waited for medical reports and results before moving forward with charging Davidson.

“On any child death like that we want to wait until we get the medical examiner’s report,” said Weaver. “It’s our contention that the mother consumed a sufficient amount of alcohol and drugs as to impair herself to a position that the baby could be hurt. She more or less smothered the baby with her body weight.”

Detectives presented the evidence to the Gaston County District Attorney’s Office.

Weaver said he didn’t want to reveal too many details in the case because he was stepping into unchartered territory.

“We’ve had cases like this in the past, and this is the first time the DA’s office has chosen to prosecute,” said Weaver.

Davidson was booked Wednesday night and assigned a $100,000 secured bond. During Davidson’s first appearance in court Thursday, Assistant District Attorney Bob Forbes asked that the bond be raised, saying that Davidson presents a danger to herself and others.

District Court Judge Thomas Taylor raised the bond to $500,000.

Davidson could be seen weeping on a video screen in the courtroom.

Her mother and brother stood before the judge, defending Davidson.

Taylor told the family he was sympathetic to the situation, but his job was to address bond and assign an attorney.

“The loss of any child is a tragedy. My heart goes out to the family,” Taylor said in court.

This is the second child Davidson has lost, according to her mother, Robin Davidson.

Davidson’s first child was born prematurely and lived only a few days. Since the loss of her children, Davidson has been depressed, according to her family.

“She’s suffered enough. She’s a sweet girl,” said Robin Davidson. “We’re just shocked at the charge.”

Davidson’s brother, Joshua Davidson, said he hopes the judge in the next hearing shows mercy for his sister. He wants her home before Christmas.

Davidson has several pending court dates separate from the child abuse charge.

Convicted of assault in 2006, Davidson was also charged with assault in Gaston County in July 2011 and again last month. She has pending DWI charges from December 2011 and September of this year. She also failed to appear in court in August.

You can reach reporter Diane Turbyfill at 704-869-1817 and twitter.com/GazetteDiane.